"It's not what you know, it's iTSWHO!"
Before becoming the CEO and co-founder of iTSWHO, I faced significant challenges finding a technical partner who shared my passion, skills, and dedication to my ideas in the SaaS space. I tried working with a few different partners on various projects, including hiring a college friend and outsourcing an MVP build, with the plan to bring them on board as cofounders if things worked out. Unfortunately, they didn’t. Both were more focused on money and equity than on collaboration, innovation, or challenging my ideas. This approach is common with dev shops that are just looking to make a quick buck—they rarely questioned my ideas or suggested ways to improve them. As a result, I ended up with features that I didn’t know how to update, fix, or even properly monitor, leading to a significant financial loss.
During this period of trial and error, I leaned on my BA degrees in Economics and Finance and the network I had built in college. I received offers to work in finance roles at Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and other major banks. Instead of settling into a corporate job, I focused on expanding my network. I moved across the country, attending networking events, workshops, and happy hours solo, and even hosted networking events in each city I lived in, partnering with local pubs and non-profits. This strategy drastically expanded my network when I applied it to the tech and startup space.
Fast forward three years after college, I built a solid network of people across venture capital, Forbes networks, private banking, law, real estate, successful tech builders, mentors, and more. Through this network, I received invaluable advice to think deeply about my problem, target audience, and unique differentiators. I knew I needed a strong cofounder but struggled to find someone aligned with my values and goals using various online platforms like LinkedIn, Coffee Space, YC CoFounder Match, Reddit, and others. The challenges included people not responding, differing goals and values, and poor communication styles. Even though I stayed in touch with many of the people I met, I realized they weren't the right fit for my startup.
I started helping others find suitable partners through my growing network in different states. Eventually, a family member with the same technical challenges and motivations as me saw the value in my matchmaking abilities. He knew that working with the right people, who were just as driven, was key. Seeing the potential in my idea and network, he decided to join me. Together, we’ve helped people collaborate, build businesses, host networking conferences, and expand their networks by leveraging our knack for connecting the right people.
All of this success came from meeting the right people at the right time. My expanding network introduced me to incredible, inspiring individuals who continue to influence me. I am passionate about helping people collaborate and build successful businesses together because of my journey and belief: it's not just what you know—iTSWHO you know.
That's the essence of iTSWHO—bringing the right people together to create meaningful collaborations and impactful businesses.
Why You Need a Cofounder
Reasons to have one: The largest tech companies (Apple, Facebook, Google) in the world have cofounders. Yes, one may be more popular than the other (Mark Zuckerberg), given they are the face and probably the idea behind it, but they didn’t start that way. How are you going to build a rocket without a scientist? Your ambition does not matter if you do not fully have what it takes to execute and succeed. Great software companies are built with great software engineers, so not only do you need a cofounder, you need the best. The best cofounder, among other things, believes in your vision, has exceptional skills to build and bring great ideas to the table, and is determined to build day in-day out. They care, they are committed, they have tangible experience building the idea that you have in your mind. The goal shouldn’t be to just raise money, but if you find yourselves scaling in the future and accepting venture capital funds, this is what investors look for. They care about the team!
Market changes, business pivoting, and sharing of resources are great reasons to have cofounders. Each market that has an (in)direct effect on our business has trends that change over time, the fluctuations can cause new data to emerge, and if you cannot get on the forefront of this change, then your competitor will push you out of the way. Your team has to be dynamic enough to prepare for the future! You don’t have to quit your business; using the skills you all have you can pivot into a new idea in the same industry or possibly an industry that makes more sense - doesn’t matter because you collectively are working through this together as a team. Sharing of resources is a huge one because you are limited to only who and what YOU know alone. This changes drastically, by bucketing our network into who and what WE know. You’ve ever heard teamwork makes the dream work? Well, it’s true.
A bit of advice we’ve gotten here was that you may want to wait until you get a cofounder before you get started working on the wrong thing. The worst thing you can do is get the ball rolling on the wrong idea/product because you don’t want to put yourself in a position where pivoting is the only thing you can do. You’ve wasted money and valuable time building the wrong thing that you may have not thought deeply about. Now, there are exceptions to this. Y Combinator’s team stated that they do accept solo founders; those people typically have high conviction (do not need advice on their idea), are technical (can execute the business themselves), and therefore can make progress without having one. If this is you, you are to give it a shot.
How to Find a Cofounder?
1. Leverage Your Existing Network: School, Work, and Mutual Friends
Your existing network is often the best place to start. Whether it’s someone from school, work, or a mutual friend, these are people you’ve already seen in action and possibly collaborated with. You know how they handle pressure, communicate, and solve problems.
If you’re considering someone from this circle, start by collaborating on small projects. Share your ideas openly, but also see how you both handle execution. It's not enough to just talk about what could be done; you need to see how they respond to challenges and contribute to solutions. This will help you determine if they have the commitment, work ethic, and chemistry that makes for a strong cofounding relationship.
2. Online Platforms: Exploring Beyond Your Circle
Online platforms have revolutionized how entrepreneurs connect with potential cofounders. Tools like Y Combinator's CoFounder Match, CoffeeMug, LinkedIn, and CoFoundersLab have all played their part in connecting like-minded individuals.
Each platform has its strengths, but we believe there’s more to be done in this space. That’s where iTSWHO comes in. While current platforms are excellent at providing initial matches, iTSWHO takes things further by focusing on compatibility metrics that go beyond the surface. Our platform allows users to set realistic goals, values, and working styles that are essential for a thriving partnership. We emphasize meaningful compatibility, enhancing communication and collaboration dynamics to help you connect with someone who doesn’t just seem good on paper but who truly aligns with your startup philosophy.
Moreover, with iTSWHO, the journey doesn’t stop after a match is made. Our platform allows users to continue meeting potential collaborators and enhance their team dynamics by practicing their compatibility through various interactive tools and exercises. This ongoing engagement helps teams to better understand each other's strengths and weaknesses, making it easier to adapt and grow together.
3. Be Open and Authentic About Your Vision
One of the most effective ways to attract a strong cofounder is to be genuinely authentic. Share who you are, what you stand for, and what you aim to achieve. Authenticity has a magnetic effect—it draws in those who resonate with your mission and values.
Think of yourself as a natural recruiter, not selling people on your idea but inspiring them to be part of something bigger. When people feel that they are not just joining a startup but embarking on a meaningful journey that aligns with their own values and aspirations, you create a stronger foundation for collaboration.
Conclusion
Finding a cofounder is not just about finding someone with the right skills or background. It’s about aligning deeply on values, working styles, and vision. While platforms like LinkedIn and CoFoundersLab offer great starting points, iTSWHO is designed to provide a more refined approach by focusing on the elements that truly matter in a cofounder relationship.
With iTSWHO, you not only find the right match but also have the tools to continuously improve your collaboration and team dynamics, making sure your startup is built on a solid foundation. In the end, it’s not just about what you know or even who you know—it’s about finding someone who shares your journey and your drive. That’s what builds a great startup from the ground up.